The Most Reverend John Paterson - BA, LTh (Hons)

Bishop John Paterson has brought a unique perspective to the highest leadership positions in the Anglican Church, touching people from many walks of life. He has always acknowledged that his early training as a young priest within Maori communities, which began in 1972 when he was appointed Vicar of the Waimate North Anglican Maori pastorate, helped him in his vocation. It was here - in the heart of Tai Tokerau - where he came under the guidance of acknowledged repositories of Ngapuhi reo and tikanga, Eru Moka Pou and the Reverend Pat Whiu, that he became a more fluent Maori speaker.

John graduated from The University of Auckland in 1966 with a BA, majoring in English and History, and incorporating Maori Studies as his 'foreign language' requirement, a subject he now wryly acknowledges set him on the path to understanding his own nationhood.

Before his appointment in 1988 as General Secretary of the Anglican Province of New Zealand, John held a wide number of positions in the church, which reflected his strong commitment to service, social justice and biculturalism. In 1988, he was appointed a member of the Anglican Consultative Council - the international Anglican representative body of which he was elected Chair in 2003, thus becoming the highest elected officer in the Anglican Church worldwide.

3 years after his consecration as Bishop of Auckland in 1995, John was elected Primate and Presiding Bishop of the Anglican Church in New Zealand and Polynesia.

John received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004.